Neurochondrin interacts with the SMN protein suggesting a novel mechanism for Spinal Muscular Atrophy pathology
Abstract
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is an inherited neurodegenerative condition caused by reduction in functional Survival Motor Neurones Protein (SMN). SMN has been implicated in transport of mRNA in neural cells for local translation. We previously identified microtubule-dependant mobile vesicles rich in SMN and the splicing factor SmB, a member of the Sm protein family, in neural cells. By comparing the proteome of SmB to that of SmN, a neural-specific Sm protein, we now show that the essential neural protein neurochondrin (NCDN) interacts with Sm proteins and SMN in the context of mobile vesicles in neurites. NCDN has roles in protein localisation in neural cells, and in maintenance of cell polarity. NCDN is required for the correct localisation of SMN, suggesting they may both be required for formation and transport of trafficking vesicles. NCDN provides a potential therapeutic target for SMA together with, or in place of, those targeting SMN expression.
Citation
Thompson , L W , Morrison , K D , Shirran , S L , Groen , E J N , Gillingwater , T H , Botting , C H & Sleeman , J E 2018 , ' Neurochondrin interacts with the SMN protein suggesting a novel mechanism for Spinal Muscular Atrophy pathology ' , Journal of Cell Science , vol. 131 , no. 8 , jcs211482 . https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.211482
Publication
Journal of Cell Science
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0021-9533Type
Journal article
Description
Work in the Sleeman laboratory by Luke Thompson was funded by MRC-CASE studentship MR/K016997/1. This work was also supported by the Wellcome Trust [grant number 094476/Z/10/Z], which funded the purchase of the TripleTOF 5600 mass spectrometer at the BSRC Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, University of St Andrews.Collections
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